Sermons On The First Readings
Series III, Cycle B
Richard Gribble, CSC, Ken Lentz, William J. Carl III, Donna E. Schaper, Robert A. Hausman

When building anything of lasting value, it's important to lay a solid foundation — and the foundation of our Christian faith lies in the Hebrew scriptures. In this collection of inspirational messages based on the First Readings from Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary, five outstanding practitioners of the homiletic art explore passages from the Old Testament and the book of Acts. These ancient texts chronicle God's intervention in the lives of ordinary people throughout history, and the messages in this volume show how the stories of God's chosen people offer many lessons to guide us in our spiritual journey today. Drawing on diverse backgrounds and perspectives, this set of sermons for each Sunday and major celebration throughout the entire church year inspire us to see God's influence — not only in our own lives, but also throughout all humanity.
This essential resource is useful for:

• Fresh homiletical approaches to the lectionary texts

• Inspiring preaching illustrations and sermon starters

• Understanding scripture passages

• Bible study and discussion groups

• Personal devotions and inspirational reading
Richard Gribble, CSC is an associate professor of religious studies at Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts. He is the author of 25 books, including a three-volume series on The Parables of Jesus (CSS), as well as more than 200 articles and reviews. A Catholic priest and member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Father Gribble is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy who served on nuclear submarines prior to entering the priesthood. Gribble holds a Ph.D. from The Catholic University of America, and he has also earned degrees from the University of Southern California and the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley.
Ken Lentz presently serves as a transition pastor for congregations in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Grand Canyon Synod. During nearly four decades in ministry, he has been the pastor of churches in Florida, California, Michigan, and Ohio; served for six months as the pastor of a 1,000-year-old parish in Buxtehude, Germany; and taught at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. Lentz holds degrees from Capital University, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, and the University of Heidelberg, Germany, where he earned a Th.D. in church history.
William J. Carl III is the president of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Prior to his current position, Carl served for 22 years as the senior pastor of the 1,700-member First Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. He has also taught at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, and lectured at dozens of divinity schools and conferences both in the U.S. and abroad. Carl is the author of six books, including The Lord's Prayer for Today (Westminster John Knox). He is a graduate of the University of Tulsa, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the University of Pittsburgh (Ph.D.).
Donna E. Schaper has had a varied career as a writer, pastor, denominational executive, college chaplain, and community organizer. She is currently the senior minister of historic Judson Memorial Church in New York City. Schaper is the author of more than two dozen books, including Living Well While Doing Good (Seabury), Mature Grief: When a Parent Dies (Cowley), and The Art of Spiritual Rock Gardening (Paulist Press), and her articles and meditations frequently appear in a variety of national publications. She is a graduate of Gettysburg College, Gettysburg Seminary, and the University of Chicago. To learn more, visit her website at .
Robert A. Hausman is the pastor of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (ELCA) in St. Paul, Minnesota. In addition to parish ministry, Hausman has served as a campus pastor, a college and seminary professor, a book editor, and a public relations specialist. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Hausman is the author of The Days Are Surely Coming!